The Portland daily press., 1887-09-22
Convention of the Conductors Lif,
Insurance Association.
Addresses by Judge symonds and
j. q. coombs.

We wish you pleasant visit, and extend to
you our most hearty welcome"
John b. Coombs was chosen orator of the
day, and he delivered the annual address of
the Association, of which the following is
an abstract:
JOHN b. CooMBs's SPEECH.
The speaker devoted the first portion of
his speech to a consideration of the duties
and perils of the life of the conductor, and
then proceeded, as follows, in regard to the
relations of railroad companies and employees:
The relations of railroad companies and
their employees are interdependent, and
should be mutually beneficial and support
ing; desplslng eye-service, carelessness and
even negligence, the very best efforts of the
employe should be cheerfully rendered to
the corporation, and in return the faithful
servant should receive salary which will
not merely allow himself and family to keep
soul and body together for awhile, but ena-
BILE him to live respectfully and withdraw
with competence before The infirmties of
age. make life a burden. 1t is recorded in
Holy Writ that 1.-THE laborer is worthy of his
hire" and the railroad conductor is the last
person to prove an exception to that rule
The elevation of the character and condi-
ton OF their employees has for more than a
decade received the attention of many rail-
road officials, particularly in the Middle and
western States The effort has been made
not simply from the standpoint of the physi-
cal, or even the intellectual, but upon high
moral and spiritual grounds. This work has
taken form and been prosecuted largely un-
der the auspices of the Young Mems Chris
tian Association, body of faithful, jealous
laDorers, who have been untiring in their en-
deayors and unselfsh in their motives.
Buildings have been provided with facli-
ties for the enjoyment of lectures and con-
certs, the practice of gymnastics and inno-
cent amuseinents. as well as the holding of
religious services ON the Sabbath. The ex
pense has been borne wholly, or to a great
extent, by the railroads, it being found that
It paid in the salutary effect upon the en-
ployes, who are better servants, and more
faithful than ever before. Probably you
Vanderbilt, who has just finished in New
York city beautiful and costly building,
with all the modern conveniences, and
which is soon to be presented to the associa-
ton for the use of railroad men.
Il have spoken thus far with reference to
the duties Of conductors generally, without
special discrimination as to the past or pres
ent, but the times are changing; life, human
life, Is changing, and if it be true. as is
claimed. that greater longevity is being at
tanned, it is also true that every year and
every month, even, brings new duties, more
OF them, and those more difficult of perform
ance, are crowded into the same space of
time than ever before. This is emphatically
true OF those duties which the conductors of
today must meet. Travel is increasing.
trains are multiplying, trains are being en-
larged, In many instances doubled up'' to
accommodate the wants of the public; yes,
this public itself is augmenting at a tremen,
dons rate, and demands and must have pro-
portionaJe facilities.
AS new stations are established with the
increase in travel, is not the time for your
work diminished instead of being increased?
is not your work made more troublesome
and complicated in the issuance of new tick
cts with such variety OF conditions? Tick
cts issued under the pressure of competition.
or to crafty the demand of the times for
low rates, involving the use of limited and
mileage tickets, and others too numerous to
mention, with the additional burden of stop
over checks thrown in? Do you not, In
passing through your trains, discharging the
ordinary. duties of your calling. preserve an
unruftied exterior frequently, while all is
anxiety and perplexity within, in view of
the crossing points to be made, lost time to
be accounted for. and your work generally
kept up?"
After the appointment of George. L. Har-
rison, j. P. Patterson and w. r. Hill as a
committee on credentials President George
+. Hanford, addressed the association with
brief but eloquent speech.
The committee on credentials, through
their chairman. Mr. Harrison, reported that
there were go delegates present entitled to
667 votes. There were present delegates
from more than 80 different railroads of the
United States.
The following committees were appoint
ed:
p. X. r.; Charles L. Turner L. & M: Charles e
Dyer, 3. q M; Walter Hutchings, Shenandoah;
y Nicholas Brown, st. p g NJ. 80. A. Tibbetts,
Committee on Constitution and Bylaws. G.
Leyengood, West Shore: James w. Oliver E. T.
n. W.; Harrison Newton, Lake Shore; Samuel c.
Brown, Ohio Southern; ID. C. Howard, Che
Special Committee-M b. Waters. N. Y. C. g.
d. r.; o. A. Bingham b. & L.; C. E. Hind, III.
bern, Supt. of E. ID. w. b g. NJ; John P. Coombs.
b. q M. 4. Q. Dyer Eastern Division B. & M:
t M Z; how. western Division B. & NJ: VIM Car
ern Division b. & NJ.
After the report of the committee on Gre
dentials, which was accepted the convention
adjourned until p. m.
The following are the reports made by the
committees after the convention was called
to order in the afternoon:
The committee on finance reported that af-
Vel CAduiAnlDB tiC uuduCto IUty were IOunQ
correct. The report was accepted.
The committee on constitution and by
laws said that changes were made in the con-
stitutiol and bylaws by this committee, but
the coht entlon voted not to accept the re-
port aud no changes were made.
After the election of this committee it was
voted to hold the next convention at Kansas
City, and then the election of officers took
place with the following result:
Presdent-JOhn C. Coombs, b. & M.
First Vice Presidents. J. Reynolds, B. & A.
Second Vice Prcsdent-Vlctor Pigeon, G. T.
Third Vice Presldent-James King. NJ z.
Secretary and Treasurer-Harry r Feltrow of |
Ohio.
The convention adopted resolutions thank |
ing the following persons and corporations
for courtesies
Boston and Maine Railroad; all railroads |
and steamboat lines which granted trans |
portatlon, Hon. y. w. Symonds; Falmouth |
IF the b; 4 M. Railroad, Messrs. John P. |
Coombs, William Carter, A. Colby, N. e. |
How, and G. K. Dyer, of the same road for |
,OurteSles as local committee; Portland q |
)gdensburg, Boston & Lowell, and Profile |
Y Franconia Notch railroads; Star Line |
Steamboat Company; r. j. Snively. ex- |
member of the executive committee: the |
:ity government of Portland; Connecticut |
River railroad; the press of Portland; the |
pullman Palace Car Company, and Rev. Mr. |
This afternoon the association will 20 ON a |
sail down the harbor in the steamer Cadet.
N acceptance of an invitation extended by |
The Star Line Steamboat Company. An in |
gitation was extended, through d. w. San
born, to the association and accepted, to 90 |
10 the White Mountains in a special train |
eaving this city Friday morning at 7.3O o. |
clock. An invitation was also received from
,he Maine Central Railroad company to 90 |
20 Bar HarbOr by rail and return by water. |
The credentials of the members will be rec- |
,gnized as passes on the Maine Central road. |
Ind it is expected that some will accept the
to Bar Harbor when they retHrn
rom the mountains.
Tonight vocal and instrumental enter |
ment will be given the association in the City |
Hall, lasting until o'clock, after which |
lancing will occupy the remainder of the |
evening. Railroad men, members of the city |
government and their friends are invited to |
De present.
Real Estate Transfers.
The following transfers of real estate in
his county have been recorded at the Regis
nv of Deeds: